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Zoning board approves meat‑packing use at 2300 N. Seventh Street with parking and anti‑sidewalk‑parking conditions
Summary
The board granted a special exception allowing a meat processing use at 2300 North Seventh Street while granting relief from off‑street parking requirements subject to three conditions: remove informal rear parking that blocks access, provide secure bike storage, and install curb‑side physical obstructions to prevent sidewalk parking.
The Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board approved a special exception allowing a meat processing and repackaging business to operate at 2300 North Seventh Street, granting relief from the off‑street parking requirement with conditions intended to preserve access and limit sidewalk parking.
Jeffrey Knight, director of planning, told the board the industrial property’s proposed meat processing use is permitted in the district but triggers off‑street parking requirements under section 7‑3‑27.6 of the zoning code. Based on the building’s size and the applicant’s testimony, the use would require seven off‑street parking spaces; the planning bureau determined only two of the rear spaces shown on the applicant’s plan could be counted without blocking legal vehicular access to the subject property or to the adjacent property to the north. The planning commission recommended the board approve the special exception and recommended three conditions to address access and parking.
Sali Ali, the applicant, said the business will receive boxed meat, repackage it and ship it out; he estimated about five to six employees and operating hours roughly 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We're just gonna be packing. We're just gonna bring in box meat, package it, and then send it out,” Ali said.
The planning commission’s three conditions adopted by the board are: (1) remove or obliterate the informal parking stripes at the rear of the building that currently prevent vehicular access to this and the neighboring property; (2) provide secure indoor bike storage or a concrete pad with bike racks adjacent to the vehicular access point to support employee biking; and (3) install physical obstructions along the curb (bollards or concrete blocks) at the Emerald Street and North Seventh Street frontages to prevent illegal sidewalk parking.
Knight said the commission reviewed on‑street parking availability along Seventh and Emerald streets and noted recent “no parking” signage on Emerald Street whose justification remains unclear; city staff are investigating whether those signs can be removed to increase available on‑street supply. Knight also noted the city’s police enforcement of sidewalk parking has increased and recommended the curb‑side obstructions to prevent regular encroachment.
Chair Claude Phipps approved the request on the record and emphasized attention to the third condition to avoid creating a recurring sidewalk‑parking enforcement situation.
Ending: The written decision will be issued within 45 days; the board approved the use with the three planning commission conditions and directed staff to finalize the decision for filing.
